Strobilanthus Plant Name &#39;Lankveld 13&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Strobilanthes anisophyllus , ‘Lankveld13’, that is characterized by its leaves that are dark purple-black to dark green-purple in color, its numerous flowers per stem, and its compact plant habit.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Strobilanthes anisophyllus

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Lankveld13’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Strobilanthes anisophyllus and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Lankveld13’. ‘Lankveld13’ is a new evergreen shrub grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

The Inventor discovered the new cultivar in June of 2008 as a naturally occurring branch mutation of an unnamed plant of Strobilanthes anisophyllus that was growing in a field row at his nursery in Elsendorp, The Netherlands.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor using softwood stem cuttings in August of 2008 in Elsendorp, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar has determined that the characteristics are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar as grown in Elsendorp, The Netherlands. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Lankveld13’ as a unique cultivar of Strobilanthes.

1. ‘Lankveld13’ exhibits leaves that are dark purple-black to dark green-purple in color.

2. ‘Lankveld13’ exhibits numerous lavender flowers per stem.

3. ‘Lankveld13’ exhibits a compact plant habit.

The parent plant of ‘Lankveld13’, an unnamed plant of Strobilanthes anisophyllus, differs from ‘Lankveld13’ in having lighter colored leaves, in having fewer flowers, and in having a plant habit that is less compact. ‘Lankveld13’ can also be most closely compared to the cultivar ‘Brunetti’ (not patented). ‘Brunetti’ is similar to ‘Lankveld13’ in having dark purple foliage, however ‘Brunetti’ differs from ‘Lankveld13’ in having white flowers and in having a less compact plant habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of a 2 year-old plant of the new Strobilanthes as grown outdoors in a 3-liter container in Elsendorp, The Netherlands. The photograph in FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the plant habit and blooming habit of ‘Lankveld13’. The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of ‘Lankveld13’. The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Lankveld13’. The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Strobilanthes.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 2 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in 3-liter containers in Elsendorp, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms spring to late summer in The             Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, narrowly upright.         -   Plant size.—Reaches about 50 cm in height and 44 cm in             diameter.         -   Hardiness.—At least hardy to U.S.D.A. Zone 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—Not more susceptible to pests and             diseases than other Strobilanthes varieties.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, moderately dense.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Quadrangular with slightly elevated angles.         -   Stem color.—146A, heavily tinged with colors ranging between             N186C and 203A.         -   Stem size.—An average of 35.4 cm in length and 4 mm in             diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.         -   Stem aspect.—Average angle of 225° to the main stem.         -   Stem strength.—Very strong.         -   Nodes.—Thickened nodes, average of 5 mm in diameter, 146A in             color and heavily tinged with colors ranging between N186C             and 203A.         -   Internode length.—An average of 3.4 cm.         -   Branching.—Moderately free branching, an average of 15             lateral branches. -   Foliage Description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Long apiculate.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, veins prominent, upper surface color             203B on purple-black leaves and a color between 139A and             N189A on greener leaves, lower surface color between 187A on             purple black leaves and 144A on greener leaves.         -   Leaf margins.—Shallowly serrate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces smooth, upper surface; glossy,             lower surface; slightly glossy.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 8 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 22 (11 pairs) per stem.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; between N186A and 203A,             young lower surface; a blend of 148A, 197A and 197B, tinged             with N186C, mature upper surface; a blend of 203B, 139A and             189A, mature lower surface; between 139A and N189A.         -   Petioles.—About 6 mm in width and 1.5 mm in height, 147A and             tinged with 187A, glabrous surface. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Axillary and terminal corymbs.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 25 cm in height and 1.6 cm in             width.         -   Flower buds.—Narrowly oblong in shape, an average of 1 cm in             depth and 0.4 cm in diameter, color 181C at apex, 200B in             middle section and 144C at base.         -   Flower fragrance.—Produces a faintly spicy odor when rubbed             specifically coming from the sepals.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—About 5 days.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright.         -   Flower quantity.—An average of 40 per stem, 4 per             inflorescence.         -   Flower shape.—Unequal tubular-campanulate, typical for             Strobilanthes.         -   Flower type.—Tubular.         -   Flower size.—Average of 1.6 cm in diameter and 25 cm in             depth.         -   Peduncles.—Average of 2.3 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter,             strong, average angle of 20° to the lateral branch, terminal             peduncles in an average angle of 0° to lateral branch,             between N186A and 203A in color, glabrous surface.         -   Pedicels.—None, sessile to peduncle.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, an average of 8 mm in depth and 3.5             mm in width.         -   Sepals.—5, oblanceolate in shape, acute apex, fused base,             lower 50% fused and free lobes have entire margin, an             average of 8 mm in length and 1 mm in width, rotate and             fused into a campanulate shape, both surfaces dull, outside             of sepal densely covered with short glandular hairs, average             length is 0.3 mm and NN155A in color, color: young upper             surface; 200B, base 149B, young lower surface; 200B, base             144C, mature upper surface; 200B, base 149B, mature lower             surface; 200B, base 144C.         -   Petals.—5, lower 85% fused into tube, narrow obovate in             shape, margin entire on free portion, apex acute, an average             of 2.6 cm in length with free portion an average of 0.5 cm             in width, overall appearance of the petal is slightly glossy             with tip curved to a 90° angle to the tube, inner surface is             smooth, outer surface is densely covered with short soft             hairs average length is 0.5 mm and 85C in color on the free             lobes and 85D in color on the tube, inner surface is             glabrous, color of inner surface when opening; 84B, tube             85D, veins 83D, base 163A to 163B, color of outer surface             when opening; 84C, tube 85D, veins 84A, base 162A to 162B,             color of inner surface when fully open; 85B to 85C, tube             85D, veins 83D, base 163A to 163B, color of outer surface             when fully open; 85C, tube 85D, veins 84A, base 162A to             162B, petal color fading to 76B and then later becoming             165C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, about 2.2 cm in length, style is an             average of 2 cm in length, and NN155C to NN155D in color,             stigma is pointed in shape and 155A in color, ovary is N172C             in color.         -   Androcoecium.—4 stamens, diadelphous (2 short stamens, 2             longer stamens), short filaments are an average of 1.4 cm in             length, long filaments are an average of 1.9 cm in length,             NN155D in color, anthers are 155A in color, an average of             0.5 mm in length, and basifixed and ovate in shape, pollen             is low in quantity and 158C to 158D in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—No fruit or seed production has been             observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Strobilanthes plant named ‘Lankveld13’ as herein illustrated and described. 